Just for fun, I've entered the Handicapping contest at Keeneland scheduled for Saturday, August 3, 2002.

In a nutshell, here are the rules:

6 manditory races set by Keeneland

6 optional races picked by the handicapper but must be simulcast thru Keeneland

$2 Win bet and $2 Place bet on each race

Winner is total dollars won on the 12 races.

You'll get your entry fee back down to 20th place, winner gets $10,000 and an expense paid trip to Las Vegas to big handicapping contest and then there are a bunch of tie breaking rules.

www.keeneland.com

for full details.

Now, does anyone have any hints on the best way to play these as I am perfectly capability of going 0 for 12 for the day. (a lunch buffet is included in the entry fee so at least I'll get to eat well!)

I tend to be sort of a long shot bettor but in the 6 manditories, if I can't find a good longshot, I'll probably just try for winners. I'll look at the optionals in the hopes of finding some hidden value amidst the noise.

Any ideas and suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

Steve F.

http://www.keeneland.com/simulcasting/contest.asp

for exact rules.

Steve

Well, I didn't win the contest, but I did finish 48th out of almost 300 competitors, so I'm pleased. I won $80.20 on 3 of 12 bets (and one was a $41 horse). The top 10 finishers went this way in dollars won:

$219.5
$175.2
$157.4
$149.9
$144.5
$143.4
$139
$132.8
$132.8
10 didn't copy, but all the results are posted at the website.

And this was on twelve $2 win and $2 place bets so $24 bet total and the winner hits for $219.5. (sheesh, go figure)

I thought it was a lot of fun and I did managed to get my wife out for lunch and for a few real bets. We finished up +$20 on a horse that she picked based soley on its name. We bet it across
the board at about 7 to 1 and it placed. (sheesh, go figure)

Steve

Way to go Steve -- win or lose, that looks like a positive ROI to me!!!

-Nathan

Nice Job

The $41 dollar horse is very impressive.